Senator had a ‘good innings’

Federal Liberal Senator for WA Alan Eggleston has announced he will not contest preselection for a Senate seat when his term ends in two years.

Mr Eggleston was first elected to the Senate in 1996 after serving as Port Hedland mayor and a member of the Pilbara Development Commission, and was reelected in 2001 and again in 2007.

The 70-year-old Senator said he felt 18 years was long enough representing the State.

“I’ve been in for 16 years so far, by the time I finish it will be 18, and if I contested again that would be another eight years… I feel 18 years is a pretty good innings representing WA,” he said.

“I stood for the Senate vacancy back in 1996 because there was no representation for the North West in Federal politics at the time, and when I became a Senator and Barry Haase entered the House of Representatives in 1998, we managed to have two voices for the region in Parliament.

“Given the importance of this area to Australia’s economy, I think that has been a real breakthrough.”

However, despite the representation for the region, Mr Eggleston said people in the Eastern States still did not understand the needs of the North West.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to bring some of my colleagues up here to show them the Pilbara, and I think our economic growth has meant people in the Eastern States have had to take more notice of WA,” he said.

“I still don’t know that they really understand the distances or the needs in WA in terms of infrastructure, and the amount of money that is needed for it.

“And I also strongly believe that the lack of a defence force presence in the North West is one of the biggest problems facing the region.”

Mr Eggleston said despite his decision not to contest, he would like to maintain contact with the region.